Report: Kevin Willard Brings Maryland Assistants to Villanova

Newly hired Villanova head coach Kevin Willard continues to enact his vision for the Men’s Basketball program, bringing a trio of his former assistants at Maryland to the Main Line per a report from Jeff Neiburg of the Philadelphia Inquirer: David Cox, Greg Manning and Kevin Norris Jr.

Cox joined the Terrapins after they hired Willard in March 2022, receiving a promotion to associate head coach at the conclusion of the following season. He possesses deep ties to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, a basketball hotbed commonly known as the DMV, which could help the Wildcats get a leg up in recruiting. Cox also served as a head coach at Rhode Island and as a director of basketball operations with Pittsburgh, giving him a wealth of experience in multiple aspects of the sport.

Manning spent time as a video coordinator and director of operations with the Terrapins, beginning his Maryland tenure in 2018. Upon joining the Terrapins himself, Willard retained Manning from the previous regime and later promoted him to an assistant coaching role, a testament to his ability.

Norris joined the Terrapins following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season after eight years as an assistant at UCF.

Kevin Willard also plans to retain Villanova assistant Ashley Howard, a seven year Wildcats veteran across two separate stints. Unfortunately, bringing in his own coaching staff also led to the dismissal of Wildcats’ mainstays Mike Nardi (who led Villanova to the College Basketball Crown semifinals as interim head coach following Kyle Neptune’s firing) and Dwayne Anderson II along with Jamie Young, who joined the program in June 2024.